On Wednesday, September 16, the Islamic Society of Greater Houston (ISGH), public school families, and local interfaith leaders will host a joint press conference at the River Oaks Islamic Center to deliver a community response to the Texas State Board of Education’s (SBOE) newly approved Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) social studies curriculum standards.
Speakers will address the critical civil rights and educational concerns surrounding the newly adopted standards, emphasizing the need for honest history education, the protection of religious freedom, and fair treatment for all faith traditions in Texas classrooms.
WHAT: Press Conference: Community Response to SBOE Social Studies Standards Changes
WHEN: Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at 11:00 AM CDT
WHERE: Islamic Society of Greater Houston – River Oaks Islamic Center, 3110 Eastside Street, Houston, TX 77098
LIVESTREAM: Instagram: @cairhouston | Facebook: @ISGH.org
WHO:
- Leadership from the Islamic Society of Greater Houston (ISGH)
- Houston-area faith leaders and civil rights advocates
- Local public school parents and students
- Community partners and supporters, including representatives from CAIR-Texas
In a statement, CAIR Texas said:
“A state that fears its own history cannot build a just future. The State Board of Education’s approved curriculum is not an academic disagreement. It is state-sanctioned revisionism designed to single out one faith while watering down our nation’s civil rights history.
When our state’s public school standards frame Islam exclusively through conflict while simultaneously erasing Black abolitionists, softening the realities of slavery, and excluding Palestinian histories, they are using public classrooms as instruments of political division. Our students deserve an honest, rigorous education that reflects the full truth of our shared history. We are standing united with Texas families to demand religious freedom and educational integrity for every child in our state.”
BACKGROUND:
The newly approved TEKS standards establish the foundation for classroom instruction and instructional materials that will directly impact millions of Texas public school students over the next decade. Community members, civil rights organizations, and educators have raised alarms over several critical issues in the curriculum:
- Distortion of World Religions: The standards reduce complex religious history to conflict, leaving Muslim students vulnerable to bias by teaching Islam primarily through the lens of violence while omitting significant cultural and scientific contributions like algebra.
- Erasing Racial & Civil Rights History: Key historical events have been softened or removed, including reclassifying the Tulsa Race Massacre as a “riot” and eliminating landmark Mexican-American civil rights milestones.
- Exclusion of Diverse Histories: Entire communities, including Palestinian-Americans, face complete exclusion from the K–12 social studies curriculum frameworks.
CONTACT:
- M. J. Khan, Islamic Society of Greater Houston, 713-398-4829, [email protected]
- ISGH Main Office, 713-524-6615, [email protected]
- Imran Ghani, CAIR Texas Houston Director, 713-922-5270, [email protected]
- Sameeha Rizvi, CAIR Texas Government Affairs and Legislative Manager, 512-893-1371, [email protected]
LIVESTREAM AVAILABLE:
- Instagram: @cairhouston (https://instagram.com/cairhouston)
- Facebook: @ISGH.org (https://facebook.com/ISGH.org)
The Islamic Society of Greater Houston (ISGH) is a nonprofit organization serving the Greater Houston Muslim community since 1969. Through its network of mosques and community centers, ISGH provides religious services, educational programs, youth initiatives, social support, and charitable assistance while promoting civic engagement, community service, and interfaith understanding.
CAIR Texas is the Texas-based chapter of CAIR, a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice and empower American Muslims. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, CAIR Texas does not endorse or oppose candidates for office and makes no claims as to the favorability of one candidate being elected over another.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
– END –